Embarrassing. Disgraceful. Shameful. Just some of the words that spring to mind after our latest abject humiliation on the road.
For a club like Sunderland to be getting thrashed in the third tier is completely unacceptable.
It’s now happened four times (Portsmouth, Rotherham, Sheff Weds and Bolton). Each time, Johnson has promised to learn and change the game plan but it keeps happening…
Until now, Johnson has bought some time with fans through his ‘philosophy’ of football based on youth that is easy on the eye. But what is the point of playing pretty football in the Third Division?
At this level, you have to earn the right to play by standing up to the big physical teams, something which this Sunderland seems incapable of doing.
Danny Batth was brought in to shore us up at the back with some physicality and leadership but after a promising start against Portsmouth, the Bolton fiasco leaves this hope in tatters.
Meanwhile, less physical flair players such as Patrick Roberts and Jack Clarke (do we really need two more wingers?) continue to arrive in droves.
The new ownership have depended on fans’ buy-in to their long-term vision for the club but after the endless misery of spending four seasons in the third tier patience is a luxury we can’t afford. We desperately need promotion now.
As the top two pull away with games in hand, we now face the prospect of (at best) yet another play-off place. But how we are going to win a play-off if we are comprehensively beaten in the away leg just as happened with Lincoln last season?
Before this season plays out inevitably to yet another tragic conclusion, something has to change. I’m afraid, it’s time for Johnson to go.
